Shortly after my husband and I began dating, he told me that he had someone that he wanted me to meet. He felt that she might be a great friend for me and that we would get along well. That was about 18 years ago, and to this day she is one of the truest friends that I could imagine. She is like a sister to me and I cannot imagine the past 18 years without her.

When we moved across the country, she is the only thing that I miss from “back home.” I will never stop keeping my fingers crossed that she will decide to move to a nicer climate although I understand all of the factors tying her there.

In all of our years of friendship, Rachel has been there for me through every imaginable trial. She has kept me strong and I have never felt that I could repay her for all of it. But I have tried in the one way that I know best … through her stomach.

This woman loves delicious food, and I think my cooking skills are one of the things that she loves most about me. But as much as she enjoys good food, she cannot cook very well. I have tried over the years to give her pointers, but especially now that I cannot drag her into my kitchen and teach her in person, I wanted a way to help her (and others with her lack of skills) and to share great, easy recipes with her.

Today, when I mentioned that I was starting this blog in her honor, she asked if it was going to be a blog with “Help for the Kitchen-impared.” We know each other so well.

I also want to create a family cookbook. My kids are getting older now and I acknowledge that in no time they will be moving out. I pray that they will always live close but I do not know what their future holds. And so, this site is also for them, so that they will always be able to find classic recipes from their youth, and will be able to remember the past through their tastebuds.

So welcome to this journey. I hope that you will enjoy these recipes as well and I look forward to hearing feedback on them. Thanks and be well. 🙂